Stater.
STA'TER. This coin, mentioned in the margin of Matt 17:27, in the text vaguely spoken of as "a piece of money," was in value equal to four drachmas or a shekel.
Stealing
See THEFT.
Steel.
STEEL. Ps 18:34. This word occurs four times in our English Bible, and should in every instance be rendered "copper." It is not certain that the ancient Hebrews were acquainted with steel, though it …
Stephanas
Crown, a member of the church at Corinth, whose family were among those the apostle had baptized (1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15, 17). He has been supposed by some to have been the “jailer of Philippi” (comp. Ac…
Stephen
One of the seven deacons, who became a preacher of the gospel. He was the first Christian martyr. His personal character and history are recorded in Acts 6. “He fell asleep” with a prayer for his per…
Steward
STEWARD, the chief overseer of the household, as Eliezer, Gen 15:2, and Chusa. Luke 8:3. Ministers, 1 Cor 4:1-2; Tit 1:7, and Christians generally, 1 Pet 4:10, are by a natural metaphor called stewar…
Stocks,
STOCKS, the name of a machine or instrument by which the feet of prisoners are secured. Job 13:27; Ex 33:11. It is said that the jailer at Philippi, to whose custody Paul and Silas were: committed wi…
Stoics
A sect of Greek philosophers at Athens, so called from the Greek word stoa i.e., a “porch” or “portico,” where they have been called “the Pharisees of Greek paganism.” The founder of the Stoics was Z…
Stomacher
(Isa. 3:24), an article of female attire, probably some sort of girdle around the breast.
Stone, White,
STONE, WHITE, is supposed by many to be an allusion to the practice of some ancient nations of passing judgment on an accused person. Rev 2:17. Those in favor of acquitting him cast a white ball into…
Stone.
STONE. Gen 35:14. Houses of stone were common among the Hebrews, as they are now in Palestine. The more elegant structures were built of hewn and squared stones. Amos says to the luxurious Israelites…
Stones
Besides the ordinary uses to which stones were applied, we may mention that large stones were set up to commemorate any remarkable event. (Genesis 28:18; 35:14; 31:45; Joshua 4:9; 1 Samuel 7:12) Such…
Stones, Precious.
STONES, PRE'CIOUS. About twenty different names of such stones are found in the Bible. In many instances it is at present impossible to determine precisely what gem was intended by these names. This …
Stoning
A form of punishment (Lev. 20:2; 24:14; Deut. 13:10; 17:5; 22:21) prescribed for certain offences. Of Achan (Josh. 7:25), Naboth (1 Kings 21), Stephen (Acts 7:59), Paul (Acts 14:19; 2 Cor. 11:25).
Stork
Heb. hasidah, meaning “kindness,” indicating thus the character of the bird, which is noted for its affection for its young. It is in the list of birds forbidden to be eaten by the Levitical law (Lev…
Strain At,
STRAIN AT, misprint for "strain out." Matt 23:21.
Stranger.
STRANG'ER. Gen 15:13. This word has a variety of significations in the sacred writings, as - One who is in a foreign land, at a distance from the place of his nativity. Gen 23:4. One who is not a Jew…
Straw.
STRAW. Gen 24:25. The straw wanted by the Jews for bricks, Ex 5:7-18, was to lay them on when fresh moulded. For want of it their mould fell in pieces. and their work was vain.
Stream Of Egypt
(Isa. 27:12), the Wady el-‘Arish, called also “the river of Egypt,” R.V., “brook of Egypt” (Num. 34:5; Josh. 15:4; 2 Kings 24:7). It is the natural boundary of Egypt. Occasionally in winter, when hea…
Street.
STREET. Gen 19:2. The streets of Oriental cities are usually narrow. Mats are sometimes spread across from roof to roof to shade the streets from the sun. Some streets were named as in modern times, …
Stripes
As a punishment were not to exceed forty (Deut. 25:1-3), and hence arose the custom of limiting them to thirty-nine (2 Cor. 11:24). Paul claimed the privilege of a Roman citizen in regard to the infl…
Suah
(sweeping), son of Zophah an Asherite. (1 Chronicles 7:36) (B.C. about 1020.)
Subscriptions
The subscriptions to Paul’s epistles are no part of the original. In their present form they are ascribed to Euthalius, a bishop of the fifth century. Some of them are obviously incorrect.
Suburbs.
SUB'URBS. Lev 25:34. See City.
Succoth
Booths. (1.) The first encampment of the Israelites after leaving Ramesses (Ex. 12:37); the civil name of Pithom (q.v.). (2.) A city on the east of Jordan, identified with Tell Dar’ala, a high mound,…
Succoth-benoth
Tents of daughters, supposed to be the name of a Babylonian deity, the goddess Zir-banit, the wife of Merodach, worshipped by the colonists in Samaria (2 Kings 17:30).
Succothbenoth
Occurs only in (2 Kings 17:30) It has generally been supposed that this term is pure Hebrew, and signifies the tents of daughters; which some explain as “the booths in which the daughters of the Baby…
Suchathites,
SU'CHATHITES, a family of scribes at Jabez. 1 Chr 2:55.
Sud
my secret
Sukkiim
(booth-dwellers), a nation mentioned (2 Chronicles 12:3) with the Lubim and Cushim as supplying part of the army which came with Shishak out of Egypt when he invaded Judah. The Sukkiim may correspond…